Pharyngeal bulb gasway



NOV. 16, 1937. c E H f 2,099,127

PHARYNGEAL BULB GASWAY Filed Dec. 30, 1936 J f INVEN TOR.

W I ofia ATTbR 'VEY Patented Nov. 16, 1937 PATENT OFFICE PHARYNGEAL BULB GASWAY Beverley C. Leech, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, assignor'to The Foregger 00., Inc., a corporation of New York Application December 30, 1936, Serial No. 118,213

6 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a novel type of pharyngeal bulb gasway for use in cyclopropane or other relaxing gas anaesthesia to be administered under conditions of complete 5 air tight control Without the use of a face mask which is cumbersome and often badly fitted and without having to resort to tracheal intubation. A pharyngeal gasway constructed in accordance with this invention is particularly well adapted 10 for use in cases of anaesthesia for dental surgery and other operations about the mouth, nose and face. It is of particular advantage also because it provides better airtightness of the circuit and free airway with the smooth, even and economic 15 performance of intratracheal anaesthesia. In

the accompanying drawing illustrating the in- Vention Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the pharyngeal bulb gasway shown in a position similar to the posi- 20 tion it occupies when used upon a reclining patient.

Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of arrow 2 in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view looking in the direction 5 of arrow 3 in Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is a View looking in the direction of arrow 4 in Figure 2.

The pharyngeal gasway consists of two main parts, a core and a bulb. The core 5 is a metal 30 tube curved as shown to form a pharyngeal tube adapted to be inserted into the patients mouth. The upper and lower ends 6 and 1 of the tube are circular in cross section while the intermediate curved portion 8 is flattened in a manner com- 35 mon to pharyngeal inhalers or tubes. The upper or labial end 6 is formed as a nipple or the like adapted to have attached thereto in any suitable manner known to the art a delivery tube, not shown, which leads from the usual gas 40 supply to the tube. The lower end i has attached thereto two metal loops 9, 9 which project forwardly of the tube for the purpose of preventing the epiglottis or other tissue from closing over the lower end of the tube. The latter 45 is provided with an opening Ill in the side wall thereof.

The other main part of the pharyngeal bulb gasway consists of a somewhat pearshaped bulb 12 of resilient soft rubber. More specifically the 50 shape of the bulb is such that it conforms to the average adult pharynx. The bulb may be described as having a lower near-circular portion [3 merging into an upper larger non-circular portion M of relatively greater width than thick- 55 ness. However, this description is to be understood as merely indicative and illustrative. The essential feature of the bulb is that it has the contour of an average adult human pharynx. The bulb is held on the tube 5 by friction and is detachable for cleaning or replaceable pur- 5 poses. It has an aperture 15 on its underside in registry with the opening Ill in the tube. The openings I and are provided for respiratory purposes to prevent any obstruction of the patients breathing. It should further be understood that the bulb is not wedge shaped so as to be forced into the pharynx under pressure.

It is pharynx shaped so that under surgical anaesthesia the pharyngeal tissues will relax around and about the bulb making a complete airtight system under ordinary pressures of anaesthetic gas mixtures.

The use of the pharyngeal bulb gasway may be described briefly as follows. Before commencing anaesthesia the tube is connected by any well known means to the gas delivery tube and is generously lubricated with Vaseline. The induction of anaesthesia is carried out in the usual manner including the use of the usual face mask which is removed when the jaw muscles are fully relaxed. Then the patients tongue is held gently forward by the forceps and then the gasway is introduced, bulb first, into the pharynx back of the tongue and following the contour of the roof of the mouth. The tongue is then released causing the bulb to fit snugly, but gently in its proper position. The anaesthesia is then continued in the manner known as endotracheal technique. At this point the anaesthetic mixture may be strengthened slightly if the insertion of the gasway has tended slightly to arouse the patient.

It leakage occurs around the bulb it nearly always indicates that the pharyngeal and tongue muscles have not relaxed. Deepening of the anaesthesia will correct this leakage in nearly all cases. Should stertor or labored respiration persist in deep anaesthesia it may be alleviated by gently changing the position of the gasway in the pharynx, or the posture of the patients head may be changed. The gasway should preferably be removed at the close of the anaesthesia while the jaw is still relaxed. Thereafter any usual stimulating or rousing measures may be employed if found necessary.

I claim:

1. As an article of manufacture a curved pharyngeal airway tube, a bulb of resilient material secured to the tube at its lower end, said bulb having the contour of an average adult pharynx, said tube having two metal loops tending forwardly from its lower end.

2. As an article of manufacture a curved pharyngeal airway tube, arbulb of resilient material secured to the tube at its lower end, said bulb having the contour of an average adult pharynx, and registering apertures in the said tube and bulb near the lower end of the tube.

3. A device foradministering anaesthetic gases through a patients mouth comprising a bulb of relatively soft resilient rubber having the con: tour and dimensions of an average adult pharynx,

and a pharyngeal airway tube extending through said bulb centrally thereof the said bulb being detachably secured to the sa-idairway by friction. 4. A device for administering anaesthetic gases through a patients mouth comprising a bulb of relatively soft resilient rubber having the con.- tour and dimensions of an average adult pharynx, a pharyngeal airway tube extending through said bulb ent a l -ther of and en s ad n from the interior of said tube to the outside of the said 101111)e 5. A device for administering anaesthetic gases through a patients mouth comprising a bulb of relatively soft resilient rubber having the contour and dimensions of an average adult pharynx, a pharyngeal airway tube extending through said bulb centrally thereof, openings leading from the interior of said tube to the outside of the said u b, and tw lo ps of me al secu dto th lower end of the tube and projecting therefrom to prevent accidental closure of the tube by the patient.

,a pharyngeal airway tube extending through said bulb centrally thereof, openings leading from the interior .of said tube to the outside of the said bulb, and a metal loop extending forwardly from the lower end of the said airway tube.

BEVERLEY c; LEECH. 

